Tuesday, December 11, 2012

jolly

from the last post, and i quote "i plan to...blog the heck out of this season." ahem, it's now been over 2 weeks. what the heck?!

anyways, i'm not looking to the past, only the present. and here we are only 2 weeks from christmas. time is ticking away pretty fast!

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we've been busy, and then again we haven't. we've been practicing balance. school and home. outside and inside. cleaning and making messes. company and solo time. sickness and health. this is a time for twinkling lights, of which we have decorated our house very abundantly, both outside and in.

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our elf, red, returned december 1st.  more on this silly little and all his antics in another post very soon.

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i've been creating and addressing and stuffing christmas cards.  i had planned to get them done and out by thanksgiving this year, as i tell myself every year, but that just didn't happen.

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on sunday, we made a last minute decision to get ready and head out to visit santa at a cute, local old-fashioned general store.  he was an awesome santa and pictures with him were free.  win-win.
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the girls got to look in his good book, sit with him while he pretended to sleep (harper refused to pretend to sleep, too) and pick out a candy cane.  one of his reindeer, donner, came with him, but the girls were too afraid to get a picture by him.

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i did also manage to host my 2nd annual cookie exchange.  a night of yummy appetizers, even yummier cookies, peppermint martinis, great girlfriends, laughs and conversations and the house completely to myself from saturday morning to sunday mid-day was out of this world amazing.  my husband is a rock star right now.

we still have lots to do and only a couple of weeks until christmas.  finish buying gifts.  wrapping.  maybe attack something on our advent calendar.  (hey, at least its up.) finish sending out the christmas cards.  a mommy-daughter date to see the nutcracker.  a visit to old fashioned holiday nights with friends.  and lots and lots of family time.  looking forward to more jolly goodness.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

it's beginning to look a lot like christmas

thanksgiving happened upon us at the earliest it could this year, which allows extra time to enjoy this holiday season.  and we are making full use of it.

as i type at my desk with my steaming cup of coffee resting beside me, the pandora on my computer is crooning out christmas tunes.  our hot apple pancake breakfast is baking in the oven.  crosby has visions of sugarplums as she still slumbers.  michael is out at the farmers market picking up roping for our outside light decor. harper is anxiously sorting through our ornaments to decide which ones to hang.  wintry scented candles are burning in several places.  ah, it's beginning to look a lot like christmas around here.

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yesterday, in keeping with our annual day after thanksgiving tradition, we met my parents and heather, tim and the boys at the tree farm.  the weather took a 180 from thanksgiving's 60 degree and sunny day.  we fought blustery, cold wind.  and mom-of-the-year that i am, i plum forgot crosby's coat.  poor thing was wrapped in a blanket, and was shivering by the time we were done.

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we spent more time than usual, but found a perfect tree only to discover a crookedy trunk as michael was sawing it down.  we decided to try and make it work.

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we arrived home and both girls crashed for a 4-hour nap. last night as we set up our tree, snowflakes began to fall.  over the past couple of days, we've watched our share of christmas films...polar express, the grinch, elf.  i love this time of year.  when we bundle up and huddle down in our home.  celebrate each other and warm our bellies with comfort foods.  snuggle in together and appreciate all the little things.  kiss and hug a bit more frequently.  abandon schedules to spontaneously go out for a sled ride or to build a snowman or sip hot chocolate.  last year, for some reason or another, i did not blog much from halloween through christmas.  i plan to do the complete opposite this year, and blog the heck out of this season.

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Thursday, November 22, 2012

thankful

i feel very blessed.  and while i do realize this throughout the year, thanksgiving allows me a full day to rest upon it and soak it all in.  so many things to count...our health and food on our table.  our jobs.  a roof over our heads.  a warm bed to sleep in.  clothes on our back.  family that we are close to and can rely on.  a husband who i love and am proud of each day.  two healthy, happy children who love to read and learn and explore, who i enjoy talking with, who are independent and determined and observant.  my heart is happy and full.

happy thanksgiving friends.

a few recent moments, instagram style.











Wednesday, November 21, 2012

boys

one reason to love michigan is the frequent sightings of red barns.  this one, i've seen daily for the past 3 years, as it is on the property of the school where i work.

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between this location and another one downtown, it provided the perfect setting for my friend, katie's, 3 boys...

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and the boys provided a perfect silly morning.  boys will be boys.

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boys will also be fantastically sweet and brotherly, and these three were adorable as always.

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what a handsome trio. ♥ ♥ ♥

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Sunday, November 18, 2012

emma

meet our niece, emma  newest, littlest love she was heaven to photograph

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congratulations to my sister-in-law, jen, and brother-in-law, pat, on your beautiful little girl.